Stern Expression

Blurb Five years ago, the 18-year-old Mia was the most naive Italian teenager ever. The people she trusted took away her inheritance, identity, and fiance. Finally, she was thrown into the bed of a stranger. That night changed everything in her life. Five years later, she returned to Italy as a world-class model with a secret child. "Mommy, take a quick peek at that handsome uncle", the small girl with a ponytail cupped her cheeks and had a dreamy look on her face. Mia sighed and replied, "Chiara, don't forget our agreement. Anyway, that stranger is not half as handsome as your Dad". The said stranger had a darkened expression on his face. His subordinates felt the urge to laugh but his oppressive aura wouldn't let them do it. That was the first time their boss met a woman who wasn't afraid of offending him. Mia's goals upon her return are only three. One, bring down her enemies and take back her inheritance. Two, Restore her identity as an Arturo. Three, Find the man from that night. What if fate has other plans for her?

I knock on the door, heart pounding like it always does when I’m about to see him. “Come in,” Justin’s voice calls—cool, smooth, and frustratingly calm. I take a deep breath and walk in, holding the folder tightly. “Here’s the report you requested, sir.” He doesn’t even glance at me. Just keeps typing, his expression unreadable. “You’re late,” he says without missing a beat. I clench my jaw. “There was a delay at the printer—” “No excuses, Joanna. Just do better next time.” Ouch. Professional and cold. As always. I nod, ignoring the sting in my chest. “Yes, sir.” I turn to leave, gripping the doorknob—just one more second and I’ll be out of this weird tension-filled office— “Wait.” I freeze. I turn around slowly. “Yes?” Justin stands now, walking toward me. In his hand, a familiar brown paper bag. He holds it out. “You didn’t have lunch.” I blink. “I’m fine.” “You skipped breakfast too. Eat.” I hesitate. “What is it?” “Chicken pesto. No onions.” My breath catches. He still remembers? “Why are you doing this?” I ask quietly. He shrugs, not meeting my eyes. “I just… remember things.” My fingers brush his as I take the bag. Warmth. Stupid warmth that shouldn’t still feel this familiar. Then, he looks at me—really looks at me. “You shouldn’t skip meals… wife.” Silence. My chest tightens. “Don’t call me that.” But my voice is too soft to sound convincing. I walk out before I say something I’ll regret. His words echo in my mind like a dangerous lullaby. Cold one second. Kilig the next. God… he’s still him. And that’s exactly the problem.

My long term relationship ended brutally, and swallowed up in pains of heartbreak, my friend lured me to the club. There, I met an extremely attractive and mysterious hulk, and I ended up in his arms for the night. My greatest shock comes when I learn that he is Bladen Stone, my company's new CEO, and he’s so much different from what I thought he was. And when rumors that threaten to ruin both our reputations start to fly, there is only one way to solve it. How does Lynn survive in the same office as Bladen with his hard and stern demeanor? Can she get past his cold facade and reveal the secrets he hides? In a world of ambition and betrayal, can Bladen and Lynnette trust each other to make sacrifices for a blooming love story or will they front another gut-wrenching heartbreak? Read on to unveil the saga of these two!

Pamela, a devout choirgirl and college student, hides a secret craving for submission beneath her innocent facade. When she meets Richard Carter, her stern history professor with a commanding presence, she falls into a whirlwind of forbidden pleasure—rough hands, whispered commands, and punishments that leave her trembling. But Richard has his own secrets, drawing Pamela into a world of whispered secrets, rough pleasure and violence.

"I, Ortega Blackwood, daughter of beta Denzel Blackwood, am rejecting you, Killian Fitzgerald, future Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack, as my fated mate!" She uttered through gritted teeth, glaring fiercely at her mate as he descended the stairs towards her. His expression twisted into a mask of fury, his eyes blazing with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, his imposing figure cast a shadow over her as she lay on the ground, vulnerable yet defiant. "Do you dare defy me, Ortega? Do you dare reject your fate?" His voice dripped with venom, each word carrying a threat that hung heavily in the air. "You cannot reject me, Ortega. You will be my mate whether you like it or not." ************** Rejecting her mate hadn't been easy. But when Ortega meets the powerful and ruthless Lycan and Mafia Boss, Alfredo Gambino, she finds herself falling in love with him, even though he is the rival and enemy of her rejected mate. And Alfredo also finds himself unwilling to let her go, especially now that her rejected mate wants her back.

"It’s not just a deal. It’s an opportunity. I’m offering you a way out of all the bullshit—" "By tying myself to you forever?" I laughed bitterly, the absurdity of the situation hitting me. "No, thanks." Ethan’s jaw clenched, his calm demeanor faltering for the first time. "It’s not forever. It’s just... a few years. Until we both get what we need. Then we can go our separate ways. You’ll have power, money, and respect." I stared at him, incredulous. "You’re insane. You're offering me marriage just so I wouldn't expose you for being a vile and evil man" His voice dropped and his expression darkened, "How much do you want?." ------------ Madison Taylor never expected to see Ethan King again—the arrogant high school golden boy who made her life a living hell. But years later, fate throws them together when she takes a job at his billion-dollar company. Madison is no longer the shy, vulnerable girl she was in high-school, she had changed into a gorgeous confident young woman who was ready to make her mark in the world and Ethan is intrigued by this transformation. Now, Ethan is desperate to keep his past buried and offers Madison a $30 million contract to marry him and protect his spotless reputation. Madison agrees, but not for the reasons Ethan thinks. She’s ready to make him pay for every cruel word, every insult that scarred her. But as their contract marriage unfolds, so do feelings neither expected. Caught between revenge and undeniable attraction, Madison must decide: will she ruin the man who once broke her, or fall for him all over again?

James’s lips brushed against mine, sending shivers down my spine. His eyes remained aloof, but his mouth ignited flames within me. My pulse raced as his cold, calculated kiss unexpectedly sparked desire. I abruptly melted into him, seeking warmth. James expression remained neutral, but his grip on me tightened, betraying his character and his hidden emotions. *************** Ava's world changed into an adventurous one, the day she got involved in an accident with Simville's most cruel and heartless billionaire. Unlucky for her, she becomes James pawn as she finds herself in a marriage contract, in order to secure his next heir as his health dwindled. Ava on the other hand, agrees reluctantly, in order to amass wealth from their contract, to pay off her debts with her forced lover, Brandon, hoping to see her lost mother once again. But as the fake love become real, Brandon becomes nicer and more gentle,an evidence of their contract love coming into reality. After reuniting with her mom, Ava is forced to choose - Going to live with her mother in her new found home, or staying with James, who has fully fallen for her. Would she choose her last true relative over her first true love??

Carly been a rejected and hopeless orphan, never knowing her true parents or lineage. Traded to the most dangerous and principled pack in Ramone, she accepted her fate as a homeless orphan after losing her parents at a tender age. Alone and struggling, Carly's life takes a dramatic turn when an unknown beast, Andrew, invades Tamine City, destroying packs and upending their lives. As Carly scales through this perilous new world, she encounters Terry, the stern and determined leader of the pack. Terry is a man of straight and direct principles, focused solely on protecting his people from the encroaching danger. Yet, beneath his tough exterior lies a heart burdened with the weight of leadership and an unspoken yearning for connection. Terry is torn between his duty and the unexpected bond he feels with Carly. As chaos spreads with Andrew's rampage, Terry faces a critical decision: Will he open his heart and home to Carly, or will she remain an outsider in her own world? Carly, must confront her fears and discover her inner strength to survive and protect those she comes to care for. Amidst the turmoil, sparks fly between Carly and Terry, their connection growing stronger as they fight side by side against Andrew's relentless onslaught. Carly's journey through Tamine City is fraught with danger, but it is also filled with moments of courage, resilience, and unexpected love. Join Carly in her struggle to find a place where she belongs and witness Terry's transformation as he learns to trust and love again. Together, they must overcome a world on the brink of destruction, where the challenges of fulfilling their destinies reside. Can they overcome their pasts and forge a future together, or will the shadows of their struggles tear them apart? read on to enjoy this amazing book.

"Isla," he called, his voice brutally stern, "you know it was a terrible mistake that shouldn't have happened in the first place. You're my best friend's daughter and he has entrusted you to my care for Pete's sake!" "Is that your excuse? But that doesn't mean we can't feel something for each other," I retorted, my voice rising. "You kissed me back, Robert. You didn't stop me; infact, you seemed to enjoy it!" Isla's dad had entrusted her to Robert Hardy, his best friend. His goal was for Isla to learn the core of handling business under the scrutiny and watchful eyes of a dear and very trusted old friend, who was to become Isla's mentor, and guardian, but Isla only saw this as an opportunity to finally be able to pursue the strikingly handsome man she has had a huge crush on ever since her young girly heart knew what it meant to feel. As she settles into Robert's world as his office assistant, sparks ignite dangerously between them as a forbidden steamy romance evolves. Their secret office affair faces a huge threat from Robert's manipulative and materialistic Ex, who also works as his manager. Amidst the uncertainty, Isla comes face-to-face with the heart wrenching secret of her very dear Robert. As she confronts this secret, her heart breaks into a million pieces on who Robert Hardy truly is. Isla also brutally finds out the most unbelievable truth about her always busy and hardworking parents. How does Isla handle the emptiness she feels, and the bile life threw directly at her face?

"Daisy Louise Harmony Thompson" is actually Marabelle Daisy Graystone, the sole survivor of the Blue Moon pack's destruction, living under witness protection. Working at Sneakz Burger Emporium under her uncle Mateo's watchful eye, her carefully constructed life begins to unravel when mysterious customers recognize her true identity. The story reveals that Viktor Bloodmoon, a rogue Alpha who once visited her family's pack, has been hunting Marabelle for years. After failing to challenge his father for pack leadership, Viktor murdered him and was exiled, but built his own rogue pack. His obsession with Marabelle stems from a potential arranged mating that was discussed between their fathers before her family was killed. When Viktor's agents find her at the restaurant, Marabelle escapes through secret tunnels with Alpha Maison of the Moon Diamond pack, who has been coldly watching over her for years. During their escape, Maison reveals the shocking truth: his wolf recognizes her as his mate, but he kept his distance to protect her identity. Further revelations show that Marabelle has been taking wolf suppressants that have been slowly poisoning her wolf spirit—a plan implemented by Alpha Logan (Maison's father) and administered by Uncle Mateo. As Viktor's forces attack, Marabelle and Maison reach the Moon Diamond pack house where they learn that as the last Graystone, she carries territorial rights to her ancestral pack lands—making her a valuable target for Viktor's power grab. The story culminates with injured Beta Dean returning to the pack house while others are still fighting, his expression showing an unsettling mixture of fury and triumph, suggesting further betrayal may be unfolding.